The monthof October may conjure up thoughts of trick or treaters and raking leaves for most people but for the Department of Highways, it means time to get ready for the upcoming winter season in terms of keeping the roads clear and open to the traveling public.
Snow and ice training has been completed and crews are making sure all trucks and equipment are ready and up to the challenge. Shipments of salt and calcium chloride have been ordered and stored within each of the District 3 counties.
Transportation Cabinet employees are prepared to react to weather emergencies no matter when they occur – on holidays, at night or on weekends. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet officials made that point today during a Snow and Ice news conference at the Department of Highways’ Warren County Maintenance Facility.
“Between our employees and contract crews, we have160 snow plow drivers trained and ready so we can maintain continuous clean-up efforts in a timely fashion,” said Greg Meredith, chief district engineer for Department of Highways District 3, based in Bowling Green.
In the ten counties covered by the Bowling Green district office, there are approximately 19,000 tons of rock salt, 67,800 gallons of liquid calcium chloride and 95,000 gallons of salt brine, according to Meredith. Rock salt and liquid calcium chloride are purchased through vendors while salt brine is produced and used in all ten counties. Salt-brine is an anti-icing agent that can be applied before the precipitation occurs.
“Other tools used include 39 roadway weather information stations that provide data regarding temperature, pavement condition, air temperature, dew point, wind speed and direction and precipitation,” stated Nancy Albright, director of the cabinet’s Division of Maintenance.
This information is available on www.transportation.ky.gov/rwis/index.htm. Thecabinet also utilizes a direct satellite weather feed to properly track storms and oversee snow and ice removal statewide. Nine permanent message boards along I-65, the William H. Natcher Parkway, and the Louie B. Nunn Cumberland Parkway provide continuous information about road conditions to District 3 staff and the traveling public during inclement weather.
Cabinet personnel are on call 24 hours a day and are called out at the first sign of inclement weather. Roadways are cleared based on traffic usage, with the more traveled roadways (interstate, parkways and primary roads) cleared first. Generally, the cabinet is responsible for cleaning all state-maintained highways. County and city crews across the state fight the battle locally. Below are priority routes for Logan County and the counties adjoining it:
Logan County –Priority A routes are US 68, US 68 Bypass, US 431, US 79, a portion of KY 79, KY 100, KY 2146 and KY 2843. Priority B routes include KY 102, KY 103, KY 3519, 1040, KY 106, KY 107, KY 178, KY 3233, KY 591, KY 663, KY 664, KY 73, KY 96 and the remainder of KY 79. Other routes are Priority C.
Simpson County –Priority A routes are I-65, US 31W, KY 100 and KY 1008. Priority B routes include KY 383, KY 73, KY 664, KY 585, KY 1171, KY 2592 and KY 3498. Other routes are Priority C.
Todd County – Priority A routes are US 68, US 79 and KY 181. Priority B routes include old US 68, US 41, KY 102, KY 104, KY 106, KY 107W, KY 171, KY 178, a portion of KY 181N, KY 294 and KY 346. Other routes are Priority C.
Warren County –Priority A routes are I-65, William H. Natcher Parkway, US 31W, US 68, US 231, KY 446, KY 880, KY 3225, KY 2158, KY 234, KY 101, KY 622, KY 185, KY 884, KY 957, KY 2665, and a portion of KY 1402. Priority B routes include KY 101S, KY 1402, KY 3191, a portion of KY 622, KY 1435, KY 1297, a portion of KY 263, KY 242, KY 432, KY 1083, KY 526, KY 743, KY 240, KY 2631, KY 2630, KY 2629, KY 2326 and KY 2665. Other routes are Priority C.
Barren County –Priority A routes are Interstate 65, the Louie B. Nunn Parkway, US 31E, US 68, US 31W, KY 3160 and KY 90. Priority B routes include KY 63, KY 249, KY 70, KY 252, KY 255, KY 1297, KY 839 and KY 87. Other routes are Priority C.
Butler County –Priority A routes are the William H. Natcher Parkway, US 231 N, KY 70 and a portion of KY 79 N. Priority B routes include, US 231 S, KY 1328, KY 79 S KY 403, KY 185, KY 106, KY 1468, KY 1083, KY 626 and the remainder of KY 79 N. Other routes are Priority C.
Thecabinet encourages motorists to “Drive Smart” this winter, especially around snowplows. Driving tips and roadway conditions are available on thecabinet’s web site at www.transportation.ky.gov under“traveler information” or motorists can call 511 or access byInternet (http://511.ky.gov/) to get the most up to date information for interstates, parkways and major routes.
District 3 also consists of Allen, Barren, Edmonson and Metcalfe counties.